Uttarakhand: Cooperative public welfare schemes should become game changers, Dhami said – science and technology should be used in the implementation of schemes
While reviewing the Cooperative Department in the Secretariat on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the officials to work towards corrective efforts in this direction for the successful implementation of long-running schemes. How much did the beneficiaries benefit from these schemes and what special innovations can be done to make the schemes more effective, work should be done in this direction with the cooperation of the Planning Department. He also emphasized on working towards making various public welfare schemes of the state government a game changer.
The Chief Minister said that a proposal should be brought in view of the need to increase the limit of the amount of loan being provided to self-help groups under various schemes being run by the Cooperative Department. The supply chain should be made effective so that the products being prepared by the self-help groups get a better market. He said that the Cooperative Department should also coordinate with the concerned departments and take the schemes forward. The Chief Minister said that efforts should be made to identify barren land in the state and make it cultivable through various clusters. Agricultural production should be increased in rural areas through modern technology and traditional methods. The Chief Minister directed to promote millets, vegetables, pulses, fruits, medicinal and aromatic plants, fodder crops and agricultural tourism in clusters. He said that our aim is to promote reverse migration by providing livelihood opportunities to the local community. Efforts should also be made to promote millets products more through cooperation.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to increase the number of selected clusters in different districts. He said that the targets set for fisheries, beekeeping, mushroom production under the State Integrated Cooperative Development Project should be increased. New techniques of science and technology should be used as much as possible in various projects.
Cooperation Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat informed that under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Cooperative Farmers Welfare Scheme, a budgetary provision of interest reimbursement of Rs 85 crore has been made by the State Government in the financial year 2024-25. In the financial year 2024-25, a target has been set to distribute interest-free loans of Rs 1300 crore to about 1,90,000 cooperative members. Under the scheme, a total loan of Rs 5621.25 crore has been distributed to a total of 960510 beneficiaries and 5339 self-help groups so far. More than 50 thousand farmers are benefiting directly and indirectly from the State Integrated Cooperative Development Project. Under this, organic farming is being promoted.
Chief Secretary Mrs. Radha Raturi, Additional Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary R. K Sudhanshu, Special Principal Secretary Dr. Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Registrar Cooperative Alok Kumar Pandey and officers of the Cooperative Department were present in the meeting.
